"I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God." --Philippians 1:9-11
When I began last week's trip I drove to a section of town I normally don't go to. It was just northeast of Soto and Washington Blvd. Thirty years ago I drove trucks out of a warehouse in this area so I am very familiar with the turf. I saw a homeless man that day in this area on a corner of a street off Grande Vista. He had a shopping cart with him and there was a red car parked at the corner that turned out to be his. His wife was sitting in the front seat on the passenger side. When I drove up I had to double-park by their car (very unsafe on the corner) and leaned over to ask him if he was hungry (that's when I saw his wife sitting in the car) the trunk to the car was up. I didn't have time to really find out their story as cars were coming behind me and turning down that little street. The man, I'm guessing he was in his sixties, came over to get the food. On his way towards me he leaned over, looked at me and said, "I don't know where you came from, but you are a blessing." Then I had to drive away. I didn't have time to ask him his name or even to pray for them. Well, you can imagine that this man and his situation stuck with me all week. So on yesterday's trip I started by going over there again. I didn't see them, but I saw what I think may be their car. I'll check again next week.
A couple of weeks ago I went downtown on a cold Sunday night. It had rained during the day and everyone down there was cold, hungry and miserable. I had seen Angel, a homeless woman on the corner of Pico and Olive streets. She had been forced to relocate from the alley around the corner due to some construction going on. I was out of blankets by the time I saw her at the time, so last week and again yesterday I tried to find her but she isn't there anymore.
Last week I ended up stopping on the little street where John Stokes lives. I only had enough food for him, but surprise surprise there were a half dozen others on that street that day. I'm always disappointed when there isn't enough food to go around. I let everyone go through the clothes in the back, but they're always disappointed if you don't have food too. Yesterday, the first thing that one of the women living there said as I pulled up was, "You got food today?". Oddly enough, this weekend had record heat for this time of year. It's the last week of winter and temperatures reached the low 90's the last few days. However, I gave out very few bottles of water, like maybe only a half dozen. Maybe, everyone already had gotten some I don't know. I'll save what I have for the next trip. Anyway, between the people on that little street (5) and the three others around the corner I gave out all the food I had in the one stop. It ended up being a pretty short trip time-wise. --Until next time. John
Monday, March 16, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
Downtown 3/1/15
"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men." Saint Augustine
I ended up having to work Sunday (an extra day) and finished at 7 pm. It has been cold and rainy here the last couple of days and I knew that my homeless friends would be cold and hungry. The problem was going to be finding them. When it rains, they tend to be harder to find. I arrived a little after 8 pm from San Bernardino. I got off the freeway at Alameda and went to Channing St, where I had the BBQ last summer. No one was there. It looked like no one had been there for a couple of days and the shelters were half gone and kind of dismantled. I turned around to head back out to Alameda St and as I was crossing the intersection a woman was pushing a shopping cart across the street rather quickly in shorts!!! Needless to say, it was way too cold for shorts, but I couldn't stop to help her just then. I drove on over to San Pedro St and 25th. not too hopeful that anyone would be sitting out there due to the rain. Now about the rain, during the whole trip into downtown from San Bernardino I only ran into a little bit of rain although the news reports had said there were quite a few spots where downpours had occurred including part of the freeway I was travelling on. However, there were no traffic problems due to water build-up or accidents, so my timing going downtown was about as perfect as I could hope for under the weather circumstances. When I got to San Pedro St, my friends were mostly all there! I saw Hiram, Dave, another Dave, Pete and a couple of others. I gave out two blankets, over half the food, water and before I left, Dave Parker asked me to pray with everyone. We all gathered around together arms around each others shoulders and I prayed for them. It was awesome! Just then someone drove up who wanted to drive into the driveway I was blocking so I had to leave then. (Once again-perfect timing).
I had a little food left and drove over to Olive and Pico. Angel lives in an alley between some buildings on one end and the other end of the lot is a pay parking lot. But as I was about to turn on to Pico to get to this alley, she called out to me from the corner of Pico and Olive. She had had to move out of the alley. She was standing there by her shelter in pants and a T-shirt because those were the only clothes she had left. People had stolen all her stuff, including the tarp that kept her things dry during the rain. I didn't have any blankets left with me, but I searched around in the back of the car for some warmer clothes for her to wear. I found a woman's jacket that I helped her put on. It wasn't exactly the warmest jacket, more of a coat really, but it was warmer than her T-shirt. As I was getting back in my car and was looking at her I felt like I should give her the long sleeve corduroy over-shirt I was wearing. I felt badly that I didn't have another blanket with me to give her, so I got back out and walked over and gave her my shirt. I'll see her again soon I'm sure.
I helped a couple of others before I ran out of food and left for home, The trip went pretty much as I figured it would. People were cold and people were hungry. When I left work I normally would have just called it a day and gone home after a 12 hour shift, but I knew there would be desperate people in need down there and I knew the Holy Spirit would not only help me find them, but make me feel uncomfortable if I didn't go. As I slept in my warm bed last night I woke up around 3 am and heard the heavy rain that was coming down at the time. Although I had done what I could earlier, my heart went out to those I had just seen and others as they struggle to cope during this kind of weather. --Until next time. John
I ended up having to work Sunday (an extra day) and finished at 7 pm. It has been cold and rainy here the last couple of days and I knew that my homeless friends would be cold and hungry. The problem was going to be finding them. When it rains, they tend to be harder to find. I arrived a little after 8 pm from San Bernardino. I got off the freeway at Alameda and went to Channing St, where I had the BBQ last summer. No one was there. It looked like no one had been there for a couple of days and the shelters were half gone and kind of dismantled. I turned around to head back out to Alameda St and as I was crossing the intersection a woman was pushing a shopping cart across the street rather quickly in shorts!!! Needless to say, it was way too cold for shorts, but I couldn't stop to help her just then. I drove on over to San Pedro St and 25th. not too hopeful that anyone would be sitting out there due to the rain. Now about the rain, during the whole trip into downtown from San Bernardino I only ran into a little bit of rain although the news reports had said there were quite a few spots where downpours had occurred including part of the freeway I was travelling on. However, there were no traffic problems due to water build-up or accidents, so my timing going downtown was about as perfect as I could hope for under the weather circumstances. When I got to San Pedro St, my friends were mostly all there! I saw Hiram, Dave, another Dave, Pete and a couple of others. I gave out two blankets, over half the food, water and before I left, Dave Parker asked me to pray with everyone. We all gathered around together arms around each others shoulders and I prayed for them. It was awesome! Just then someone drove up who wanted to drive into the driveway I was blocking so I had to leave then. (Once again-perfect timing).
I had a little food left and drove over to Olive and Pico. Angel lives in an alley between some buildings on one end and the other end of the lot is a pay parking lot. But as I was about to turn on to Pico to get to this alley, she called out to me from the corner of Pico and Olive. She had had to move out of the alley. She was standing there by her shelter in pants and a T-shirt because those were the only clothes she had left. People had stolen all her stuff, including the tarp that kept her things dry during the rain. I didn't have any blankets left with me, but I searched around in the back of the car for some warmer clothes for her to wear. I found a woman's jacket that I helped her put on. It wasn't exactly the warmest jacket, more of a coat really, but it was warmer than her T-shirt. As I was getting back in my car and was looking at her I felt like I should give her the long sleeve corduroy over-shirt I was wearing. I felt badly that I didn't have another blanket with me to give her, so I got back out and walked over and gave her my shirt. I'll see her again soon I'm sure.
I helped a couple of others before I ran out of food and left for home, The trip went pretty much as I figured it would. People were cold and people were hungry. When I left work I normally would have just called it a day and gone home after a 12 hour shift, but I knew there would be desperate people in need down there and I knew the Holy Spirit would not only help me find them, but make me feel uncomfortable if I didn't go. As I slept in my warm bed last night I woke up around 3 am and heard the heavy rain that was coming down at the time. Although I had done what I could earlier, my heart went out to those I had just seen and others as they struggle to cope during this kind of weather. --Until next time. John
Monday, January 19, 2015
Downtown 1/18/2015
"In darkness God's truth shines most clear." Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
OK, so here's the truth,..I skipped going to church Sunday morning and came straight home from work (I get off work at 7 am). I was trying to get some sleep before the Packers football game came on at noon. Well, I ended up getting, maybe, an hour of sleep. I watched the game (an incredibly disappointing ending) and then tried to nap afterward. Well, I was too keyed-up to sleep and decided to make the trip downtown then (and get some distance from the way the game ended). So I got up and loaded up the car, stopped by a local burger joint to get some food and drove into downtown. Now I have to tell you I wasn't in a great mood. I was really worn out from work with no sleep and disappointed from the game, but knew that both of these issues were temporary and I still had an opportunity to do something of eternal value, to work for the Divine tonight! So I prayed to God that I would just pour out His love somehow to the people I would meet. Just pour out love and be a channel for His grace and mercy.....
I didn't really have a plan of where to go, so on the way down I decided to just go to the place where I did the BBQ under the freeway last August. I got off the freeway at Alameda at about 6:30 pm. You have to drive around a couple of blocks to get to that little street even though it is right by the freeway off-ramp. It's now night time. As I drove around the block I saw Alan, probably the most unkempt looking man of any of my friends downtown. He was dragging two shopping carts by a gas station/convenience store at Alameda and Olympic. I pulled in to the station and called out to him. He quickly came over to the car. Now Alan doesn't talk much at all, the most you'll ever get out of him is a few grunts and a 'uhuh" and that's about it. Sunday night I got an "OK" when I asked how he was doing and a very clear "Yes" when I asked if he wanted some water with his burgers. Before I drove away and as he was back standing by his shopping carts I raised up my arm and pointed to him and said loudly so he could hear me, "Alan. Remember. I love you." He nodded. It was already a great trip.
There were 4 or 5 men gathered directly across on the little street from where I had set up the BBQ last summer and as I drove up Willie greeted me. I asked if he had given the gift for Nicole and Bill that I left with him the last time. He told me he had but that they hadn't been by for a few days. He also told me they had gotten a van now. With all the people gathered there I had gotten out of the car and opened up the back door so everyone could go through the clothes. I gave out burgers as several more people came by. Beverly, a very small petite woman who was at the BBQ last summer, asked how my wife and daughter were doing. It was wonderful to see so many people come by and get some needed clothing. One man as he was looking through the closes apologized for the way he smelled. After seeing Alan a few minutes before I assured him he was just fine. As people walked up, some of them would kind of hang back a little bit unsure of what was going on. I would end up welcoming them to come on over and inviting them to go ahead and go through the clothes in the car and take whatever they needed. During this time at least two people admitted to me that they struggle with substance abuse and several others complained about how "they" had taken all their stuff (a common complaint among homeless folks). "They" can either mean other homeless folks or law enforcement people. One man, whose name was Michael, said he was a truck driver by trade and was hoping to get into a "program" Monday. He asked if I knew of any, but I couldn't think of any off hand. He was with another man and another man was standing right with us. I gathered the three men together and we all locked arms around our shoulders and I prayed for them. After I had prayed for the three of them was when Michael told me of his desire to get some help for his addictions. So I prayed again with just him that he would find a place and a person to help him along his path. It was really a special moment. My biggest disappointment was that I ran out of food before I ran out of people to help. It's a problem that's becoming more and more frequent.
I began this blog with a quote from Corrie ten Boom about light shining in darkness. I felt it was a quote so appropriate to this night time visit with people struggling with homelessness, hopelessness, substance abuse and even mental illness. I also alluded to my desire to use the rest of this day to do something of eternal worth. I had prayed about pouring out His love on my way down there and had no game plan as to where to go, yet in the end I probably couldn't have picked a better place to go. So as I was looking at some quotes from Corrie ten Boom I ran across another and here it is. "There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that are safer than others places. The center of His will is our only safety - let us pray that we may always know it!" If you're looking for a God sized adventure, then start praying for it. God will do something. He will show you things you've never seen before and take you places you've never been before. Eventually, the new and strange places and things you see will become the norm and you will begin to desire to go even further. It's awesome. Pray that prayer with me....--Until next time. John
OK, so here's the truth,..I skipped going to church Sunday morning and came straight home from work (I get off work at 7 am). I was trying to get some sleep before the Packers football game came on at noon. Well, I ended up getting, maybe, an hour of sleep. I watched the game (an incredibly disappointing ending) and then tried to nap afterward. Well, I was too keyed-up to sleep and decided to make the trip downtown then (and get some distance from the way the game ended). So I got up and loaded up the car, stopped by a local burger joint to get some food and drove into downtown. Now I have to tell you I wasn't in a great mood. I was really worn out from work with no sleep and disappointed from the game, but knew that both of these issues were temporary and I still had an opportunity to do something of eternal value, to work for the Divine tonight! So I prayed to God that I would just pour out His love somehow to the people I would meet. Just pour out love and be a channel for His grace and mercy.....
I didn't really have a plan of where to go, so on the way down I decided to just go to the place where I did the BBQ under the freeway last August. I got off the freeway at Alameda at about 6:30 pm. You have to drive around a couple of blocks to get to that little street even though it is right by the freeway off-ramp. It's now night time. As I drove around the block I saw Alan, probably the most unkempt looking man of any of my friends downtown. He was dragging two shopping carts by a gas station/convenience store at Alameda and Olympic. I pulled in to the station and called out to him. He quickly came over to the car. Now Alan doesn't talk much at all, the most you'll ever get out of him is a few grunts and a 'uhuh" and that's about it. Sunday night I got an "OK" when I asked how he was doing and a very clear "Yes" when I asked if he wanted some water with his burgers. Before I drove away and as he was back standing by his shopping carts I raised up my arm and pointed to him and said loudly so he could hear me, "Alan. Remember. I love you." He nodded. It was already a great trip.
There were 4 or 5 men gathered directly across on the little street from where I had set up the BBQ last summer and as I drove up Willie greeted me. I asked if he had given the gift for Nicole and Bill that I left with him the last time. He told me he had but that they hadn't been by for a few days. He also told me they had gotten a van now. With all the people gathered there I had gotten out of the car and opened up the back door so everyone could go through the clothes. I gave out burgers as several more people came by. Beverly, a very small petite woman who was at the BBQ last summer, asked how my wife and daughter were doing. It was wonderful to see so many people come by and get some needed clothing. One man as he was looking through the closes apologized for the way he smelled. After seeing Alan a few minutes before I assured him he was just fine. As people walked up, some of them would kind of hang back a little bit unsure of what was going on. I would end up welcoming them to come on over and inviting them to go ahead and go through the clothes in the car and take whatever they needed. During this time at least two people admitted to me that they struggle with substance abuse and several others complained about how "they" had taken all their stuff (a common complaint among homeless folks). "They" can either mean other homeless folks or law enforcement people. One man, whose name was Michael, said he was a truck driver by trade and was hoping to get into a "program" Monday. He asked if I knew of any, but I couldn't think of any off hand. He was with another man and another man was standing right with us. I gathered the three men together and we all locked arms around our shoulders and I prayed for them. After I had prayed for the three of them was when Michael told me of his desire to get some help for his addictions. So I prayed again with just him that he would find a place and a person to help him along his path. It was really a special moment. My biggest disappointment was that I ran out of food before I ran out of people to help. It's a problem that's becoming more and more frequent.
I began this blog with a quote from Corrie ten Boom about light shining in darkness. I felt it was a quote so appropriate to this night time visit with people struggling with homelessness, hopelessness, substance abuse and even mental illness. I also alluded to my desire to use the rest of this day to do something of eternal worth. I had prayed about pouring out His love on my way down there and had no game plan as to where to go, yet in the end I probably couldn't have picked a better place to go. So as I was looking at some quotes from Corrie ten Boom I ran across another and here it is. "There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that are safer than others places. The center of His will is our only safety - let us pray that we may always know it!" If you're looking for a God sized adventure, then start praying for it. God will do something. He will show you things you've never seen before and take you places you've never been before. Eventually, the new and strange places and things you see will become the norm and you will begin to desire to go even further. It's awesome. Pray that prayer with me....--Until next time. John
Monday, December 29, 2014
Downtown 12/28/14-Year in review
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12
This was the last trip of 2014 and it was made at night again. I was wanting to make a trip where I would be helping homeless folks who were alone. I have the two spots, 25th and San Pedro St and the place a block from the Jack in the Box, where there are lots of people and if I stop there I end up giving out all the food and it kind of limits my ability to help those who are by themselves. I love helping both, but for some reason I always gravitate towards those who are alone. Probably because I can have deeper conversations one-on-one than with a crowd. I had some stuff for Nicole's baby that I wanted to drop off at the spot she seems to drop by occasionally so I waited to go there at the end of the trip.
So between the first guy and the last woman I was able to help and pray with about eight people. All of them seemed to be very needful of a meal. One of the last guys was Derek. He knew me and I've seen him several times around 14th and Essex. This night he was in an alley were I had a couple of BBQ's a few years back. He told me Keysha, a homeless woman we both know, is in a 'program' down on skid row at the Weingarden facility. Derek was doing the best he could in this spot. Other homeless people keep taking stuff when he leaves, so he's constantly having to start over. He needed 'anything' warm and I was happy to be able to help him out.
There were a couple of others over on Venice by Los Angeles St on opposite corners. One was a man named Jaime. He was very grateful for the food and the pair of socks and he told me about his brother on the other corner. I'm not sure if his 'brother' was actually related or just in spirit, but I went over and helped him too. His name was Hector. Hector was in pretty much the same situation everyone else was Sunday night....cold and hungry.
One other woman I helped was Angel, who lives in an alley off Pico between Olive and Hill St. She called me by name as I drove up. She was listening to the Laker game that had just started. She needed a pair of pants and I just happened to have put a pair of women's jogging pants in the car before leaving the house. She was pretty happy to get them. She too complained about losing stuff when she's away from her spot.
So looking back on this last year there are three or four really memorable times for me. As the year started I was getting an opportunity to preach the gospel in MacArthur Park until about April or so. That was probably one of the more exhilarating things I've ever done. Impromptu preaching I had never done before. Along with that opportunity was the praying in front of the store door where the words "I am Legion" had been painted. By April those words were gone from the door and coincidentally, the preaching opportunity ended also. Then there was the BBQ in August. The biggest BBQ I had done up to that time. Along with my wife, daughter, sister-in-law and niece we not only served a lot of people food, but because I had help (and an extra car) we gave out lots of clothing too. Then back in November I was able to put on the lasagna dinner on the corner of 25th and San Pedro. I probably served more meals on that day than on any other BBQ day. In addition to that, because Nikki helped serve a lot of the people, I was able to talk and pray with many others. It was so cool praying with people that otherwise might not ever go to a church.
On a more personal level there were two encounters that really stood out for me. I had prayed before a trip back in June or so about helping someone who was really desperate emotionally. About fifteen minutes later I was helping a man on Petaloma and 14th. After giving out some food and water to him we got started talking somehow about his situation. He ended up telling me he was ready to end his life. I stayed and talked to him for quite a while that day and ended up giving him a card to the Dream Center hoping he would take the opportunity to not only get some help, but change the direction of his life. I never saw him again. I pray he sought help there or somewhere else. The other person was Elva. I met her through the people at 25th and San Pedro. She lives in the residential area east of San Pedro Ave. I prayed with her and found out her husband had just died a short time before. A couple of weeks later I spent an hour or more in her home as she showed me pictures of her wedding forty years before. She just needed someone to share her grief with and I was very privileged to be the someone chosen. How fortunate it was that her son-in-law was there to translate for us! It may have been the most important moment of this ministry during the whole year. However, I realize that I see things from my perspective and there may have been many other moments that from the perspective of the person I helped it was much more valuable that I could ever know. All in all, it was a very good year and I look forward to 2015 and the possibilities that lay ahead. --Until next time. --John
This was the last trip of 2014 and it was made at night again. I was wanting to make a trip where I would be helping homeless folks who were alone. I have the two spots, 25th and San Pedro St and the place a block from the Jack in the Box, where there are lots of people and if I stop there I end up giving out all the food and it kind of limits my ability to help those who are by themselves. I love helping both, but for some reason I always gravitate towards those who are alone. Probably because I can have deeper conversations one-on-one than with a crowd. I had some stuff for Nicole's baby that I wanted to drop off at the spot she seems to drop by occasionally so I waited to go there at the end of the trip.
So between the first guy and the last woman I was able to help and pray with about eight people. All of them seemed to be very needful of a meal. One of the last guys was Derek. He knew me and I've seen him several times around 14th and Essex. This night he was in an alley were I had a couple of BBQ's a few years back. He told me Keysha, a homeless woman we both know, is in a 'program' down on skid row at the Weingarden facility. Derek was doing the best he could in this spot. Other homeless people keep taking stuff when he leaves, so he's constantly having to start over. He needed 'anything' warm and I was happy to be able to help him out.
There were a couple of others over on Venice by Los Angeles St on opposite corners. One was a man named Jaime. He was very grateful for the food and the pair of socks and he told me about his brother on the other corner. I'm not sure if his 'brother' was actually related or just in spirit, but I went over and helped him too. His name was Hector. Hector was in pretty much the same situation everyone else was Sunday night....cold and hungry.
One other woman I helped was Angel, who lives in an alley off Pico between Olive and Hill St. She called me by name as I drove up. She was listening to the Laker game that had just started. She needed a pair of pants and I just happened to have put a pair of women's jogging pants in the car before leaving the house. She was pretty happy to get them. She too complained about losing stuff when she's away from her spot.
So looking back on this last year there are three or four really memorable times for me. As the year started I was getting an opportunity to preach the gospel in MacArthur Park until about April or so. That was probably one of the more exhilarating things I've ever done. Impromptu preaching I had never done before. Along with that opportunity was the praying in front of the store door where the words "I am Legion" had been painted. By April those words were gone from the door and coincidentally, the preaching opportunity ended also. Then there was the BBQ in August. The biggest BBQ I had done up to that time. Along with my wife, daughter, sister-in-law and niece we not only served a lot of people food, but because I had help (and an extra car) we gave out lots of clothing too. Then back in November I was able to put on the lasagna dinner on the corner of 25th and San Pedro. I probably served more meals on that day than on any other BBQ day. In addition to that, because Nikki helped serve a lot of the people, I was able to talk and pray with many others. It was so cool praying with people that otherwise might not ever go to a church.
On a more personal level there were two encounters that really stood out for me. I had prayed before a trip back in June or so about helping someone who was really desperate emotionally. About fifteen minutes later I was helping a man on Petaloma and 14th. After giving out some food and water to him we got started talking somehow about his situation. He ended up telling me he was ready to end his life. I stayed and talked to him for quite a while that day and ended up giving him a card to the Dream Center hoping he would take the opportunity to not only get some help, but change the direction of his life. I never saw him again. I pray he sought help there or somewhere else. The other person was Elva. I met her through the people at 25th and San Pedro. She lives in the residential area east of San Pedro Ave. I prayed with her and found out her husband had just died a short time before. A couple of weeks later I spent an hour or more in her home as she showed me pictures of her wedding forty years before. She just needed someone to share her grief with and I was very privileged to be the someone chosen. How fortunate it was that her son-in-law was there to translate for us! It may have been the most important moment of this ministry during the whole year. However, I realize that I see things from my perspective and there may have been many other moments that from the perspective of the person I helped it was much more valuable that I could ever know. All in all, it was a very good year and I look forward to 2015 and the possibilities that lay ahead. --Until next time. --John
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Downtown 12/20/14
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him..." John 3:16-17
I had been on a trip to visit family all day Saturday and stopped downtown on my way back home. I didn't even arrive there until about 6 pm and needed to rest for a half an hour or so. I had kind of dozed off for a little bit and I was awakened by "Jackie", a homeless guy who wanted to say "Hello" and "Merry Christmas". I went into the Jack in the Box (I had been in my car in the parking lot) and had some coffee and a couple of tacos before meeting with any homeless friends. When I left the burger joint at 7 pm I purchased a bunch of burgers and went down a few streets to where I had the BBQ during the summer. There were a half dozen or so homeless folks there where Willie lives. They were all real happy to see me. One of the cool things that happened was one of the homeless men I had given some burgers to came back up to me thanking me for the food....after he had eaten the burgers. It kind of reminded me of the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers (and the one who returned to thank him for the healing). During this time Nicole and Bill came by with her baby, Billy Joe. She works at the recycler on the other side of the block. I had collected some things for her that I was going to leave with Willie, but it was great that they just happened to show up while I was there. Most of the men who were there had been there for the BBQ back in August, so one of the things they asked me about was when I was going to do another one! I had to tell them, "Not for a while." I need to be off the night shift and we need daylight savings time back too. This won't happen until after February. Since there were so many people there the food went pretty quickly and all the coats and jackets went too.
I left there with only four burgers left so I drove around the corner and gave them to Dave and John Stokes. It ended up being a fairly quick trip once I actually got started. However brief it was, it was still very fulfilling and several people were helped on a cold December night downtown the weekend before Christmas. --Until next time. John
Here's a photo of Nicole and Billy Joe
I had been on a trip to visit family all day Saturday and stopped downtown on my way back home. I didn't even arrive there until about 6 pm and needed to rest for a half an hour or so. I had kind of dozed off for a little bit and I was awakened by "Jackie", a homeless guy who wanted to say "Hello" and "Merry Christmas". I went into the Jack in the Box (I had been in my car in the parking lot) and had some coffee and a couple of tacos before meeting with any homeless friends. When I left the burger joint at 7 pm I purchased a bunch of burgers and went down a few streets to where I had the BBQ during the summer. There were a half dozen or so homeless folks there where Willie lives. They were all real happy to see me. One of the cool things that happened was one of the homeless men I had given some burgers to came back up to me thanking me for the food....after he had eaten the burgers. It kind of reminded me of the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers (and the one who returned to thank him for the healing). During this time Nicole and Bill came by with her baby, Billy Joe. She works at the recycler on the other side of the block. I had collected some things for her that I was going to leave with Willie, but it was great that they just happened to show up while I was there. Most of the men who were there had been there for the BBQ back in August, so one of the things they asked me about was when I was going to do another one! I had to tell them, "Not for a while." I need to be off the night shift and we need daylight savings time back too. This won't happen until after February. Since there were so many people there the food went pretty quickly and all the coats and jackets went too.
I left there with only four burgers left so I drove around the corner and gave them to Dave and John Stokes. It ended up being a fairly quick trip once I actually got started. However brief it was, it was still very fulfilling and several people were helped on a cold December night downtown the weekend before Christmas. --Until next time. John
Here's a photo of Nicole and Billy Joe
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Sunday night downtown-12/14/2014
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Luke 2:8-16
This is a favorite passage of mine and one of the reasons is because the first people who were told of Jesus' birth worked the night shift!!!
Another trip downtown made at night. In fact, I don't think I even made it down there until about 7:30 pm. It's supposed to rain tomorrow or at least by tomorrow night and I knew people could use some warm clothes. So I loaded up a half dozen or so jackets and sweat shirts in the car and took off for San Pedro and 25th. I hadn't seen these folks since the dinner last month (Nov 16th) and all the usual people were there except for Victoria and Hiram. The jackets were gone in less than five minutes and two of the blankets I took also. It was a good but brief stop because I had parked in front of a driveway and one of the residents came home needing to use the driveway. There was a iron fence I was parked in front of that I didn't think anyone would be needing to get through, but someone showed up after I'd been there for five minutes, so I had to leave rather quickly. It was good to be able to accomplish so much so quickly; food, water and warm clothing and hugs for everyone.
I then drove over to Venice Blvd by Los Angeles St and found some friends on a corner there. One of the guys is Felipe. I was able to show him a picture of him on my phone that I took with him and Antonio and Leticia a couple of summers ago. He was sure surprised to see it. Although they looked like they had a lot of 'stuff'', Felipe told me that the city had come by one day while they were gone and taken everything away. So the socks and the last blanket I had with me were greatly needed.
I had two burgers left and after checking out a couple of locations and finding nobody there I decided to drive over to the Jack in the Box and take a short break. So while I was sitting at one of the tables and having some coffee (I was reading a book during this time) I noticed a man sitting by himself in one of the corners of the dining room. He wasn't eating or drinking anything just sitting there minding his own business hoping to not be noticed by the staff there. He kept looking at his hands which were kind of dirty. When I was ready to go I walked over to him and told him if he was hungry I had a couple of burgers left in my car he could have. He said "OK" and I motioned for him to follow me outside. I gave him the burgers and asked what his name was. He told me his name was Michael. I told him I have a brother by that name. We talked for a minute or two, I gave him a pair of socks and a bottle of water before leaving. He then walked back over to the sidewalk by the Jack in the Box and started eating the burgers. I just knew he was hungry. I was glad I offered him the burgers and glad I had two left to give out. --Until next time. John
This is a favorite passage of mine and one of the reasons is because the first people who were told of Jesus' birth worked the night shift!!!
Another trip downtown made at night. In fact, I don't think I even made it down there until about 7:30 pm. It's supposed to rain tomorrow or at least by tomorrow night and I knew people could use some warm clothes. So I loaded up a half dozen or so jackets and sweat shirts in the car and took off for San Pedro and 25th. I hadn't seen these folks since the dinner last month (Nov 16th) and all the usual people were there except for Victoria and Hiram. The jackets were gone in less than five minutes and two of the blankets I took also. It was a good but brief stop because I had parked in front of a driveway and one of the residents came home needing to use the driveway. There was a iron fence I was parked in front of that I didn't think anyone would be needing to get through, but someone showed up after I'd been there for five minutes, so I had to leave rather quickly. It was good to be able to accomplish so much so quickly; food, water and warm clothing and hugs for everyone.
I then drove over to Venice Blvd by Los Angeles St and found some friends on a corner there. One of the guys is Felipe. I was able to show him a picture of him on my phone that I took with him and Antonio and Leticia a couple of summers ago. He was sure surprised to see it. Although they looked like they had a lot of 'stuff'', Felipe told me that the city had come by one day while they were gone and taken everything away. So the socks and the last blanket I had with me were greatly needed.
I had two burgers left and after checking out a couple of locations and finding nobody there I decided to drive over to the Jack in the Box and take a short break. So while I was sitting at one of the tables and having some coffee (I was reading a book during this time) I noticed a man sitting by himself in one of the corners of the dining room. He wasn't eating or drinking anything just sitting there minding his own business hoping to not be noticed by the staff there. He kept looking at his hands which were kind of dirty. When I was ready to go I walked over to him and told him if he was hungry I had a couple of burgers left in my car he could have. He said "OK" and I motioned for him to follow me outside. I gave him the burgers and asked what his name was. He told me his name was Michael. I told him I have a brother by that name. We talked for a minute or two, I gave him a pair of socks and a bottle of water before leaving. He then walked back over to the sidewalk by the Jack in the Box and started eating the burgers. I just knew he was hungry. I was glad I offered him the burgers and glad I had two left to give out. --Until next time. John
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Saturday night downtown 12/6/2014
"If you mistreat the poor you insult your Creator, if you are kind to them you show him respect." Proverbs 14:31
I usually don't have Saturday nights off from work, but I did have it off this week and I was able to make the trip at night. It rained earlier this week and the temperature is still very cool (high 50's to low 60's). Along with the low night-time temperatures most of the homeless were already bedded down for the night when I arrived at about 6:30 pm. Some I didn't try to arouse, but others (who were probably hungry) got up quickly when I asked if they were hungry.
One group of guys on the corner of Venice Blvd near Los Angeles St were still awake, but obviously winding down. One of the men I had helped before but I probably hadn't seen him in over a year. His name was Felipe and I used to see him a few blocks east of there with Antonio and Lecticia. In fact, he asked me how they were doing. After I helped these three men I prayed with them and it was then that Felipe said something I won't soon forget. He said, "We need prayer. Thank you so much." It wasn't said in a patronizing way, but really heartfelt. He probably remembered me praying with Antonio and Leticia..
I left that corner and drove on down to Trinity St where I usually see Antonio and Leticia. I didn't see them, although they may have been there sleeping under some blankets, but I did meet two men named Oscar and Pablo. I didn't have a lengthy conversation with them because of the language barrier, but they were very thankful for the food and water. They also were grateful for the "calcetines" (socks) and the blanket I gave them. Yes, I got to pray with them too.
I saw Angel again in an alley off Pico and Olive. She didn't say anything about leaving for Utah this time, but did talk about how a lot of her stuff had been stolen. I let her go through the clothes in the back of the car. I think she was pretty happy to see me tonight.
The last place I stopped was where I had the BBQ back in August. I saw Willie and also Nicole's husband. I'm not real sure if Nicole and him are married or not and I never did get his name. I asked how Nicole was doing and they said she stops by there every night. I didn't ask too many questions (like where she's staying), but I told them I have some stuff I've collected for her baby. Willie said I could leave it with them and he'll make sure she gets it. I didn't have any of it with me tonight, but I'll bring a few things at a time over the next few trips and I'll see if it makes it to her or not. --Until next time. John
I usually don't have Saturday nights off from work, but I did have it off this week and I was able to make the trip at night. It rained earlier this week and the temperature is still very cool (high 50's to low 60's). Along with the low night-time temperatures most of the homeless were already bedded down for the night when I arrived at about 6:30 pm. Some I didn't try to arouse, but others (who were probably hungry) got up quickly when I asked if they were hungry.
One group of guys on the corner of Venice Blvd near Los Angeles St were still awake, but obviously winding down. One of the men I had helped before but I probably hadn't seen him in over a year. His name was Felipe and I used to see him a few blocks east of there with Antonio and Lecticia. In fact, he asked me how they were doing. After I helped these three men I prayed with them and it was then that Felipe said something I won't soon forget. He said, "We need prayer. Thank you so much." It wasn't said in a patronizing way, but really heartfelt. He probably remembered me praying with Antonio and Leticia..
I left that corner and drove on down to Trinity St where I usually see Antonio and Leticia. I didn't see them, although they may have been there sleeping under some blankets, but I did meet two men named Oscar and Pablo. I didn't have a lengthy conversation with them because of the language barrier, but they were very thankful for the food and water. They also were grateful for the "calcetines" (socks) and the blanket I gave them. Yes, I got to pray with them too.
I saw Angel again in an alley off Pico and Olive. She didn't say anything about leaving for Utah this time, but did talk about how a lot of her stuff had been stolen. I let her go through the clothes in the back of the car. I think she was pretty happy to see me tonight.
The last place I stopped was where I had the BBQ back in August. I saw Willie and also Nicole's husband. I'm not real sure if Nicole and him are married or not and I never did get his name. I asked how Nicole was doing and they said she stops by there every night. I didn't ask too many questions (like where she's staying), but I told them I have some stuff I've collected for her baby. Willie said I could leave it with them and he'll make sure she gets it. I didn't have any of it with me tonight, but I'll bring a few things at a time over the next few trips and I'll see if it makes it to her or not. --Until next time. John
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